The Far Pavilions by M.M. Kaye

What is it about?

“The Far Pavilions” follows the story of English officer Ashton Pelham-Martyn during the British Raj, set against the colorful backdrop of British-Indian history.

OK, but what is it really about?

This sweeping saga of love and war, which begins with the Sepoy Mutiny in 1857 and ends with the Anglo-Afghan War from 1878 to 1880, follows Ash, an Englishman who grows up like a Hindu in the Kingdom of Gulkote in the shadow of the Himalayas. Ash neither feels accepted in the country of his English ancestors, nor in the country of his childhood and always finds himself torn between two worlds. He falls in love with Anjuli, an Indian princess, and tries to mediate between the Indians and the British during the bloody colonial war.

Is it any good?

Don’t be intimidated by the volume of this book - it is a real treasure, a gem of a novel that draws you in from the very beginning and lets you live and breathe within its pages until the very last sentence. The British author, who was born in India and spent many years of her life there, is an extremely gifted storyteller, weaving an unforgettable tale of epic proportions. She offers a vivid description of the Indian landscapes, the country’s people and their customs without wearing rose-colored glasses, showing a great eye for details that never feel forced or too lengthy. The characters in “The Far Pavilions”, even the minor ones, are well-conceived and complex, and Ash’s constant struggle with the notion of home and identity is - surprise, surprise - something that I understand well.

Favorite character? 

A book that spans almost a thousand pages obviously comes with a multitude of interesting characters, and it’s an impossible task to name just one. While I can relate to protagonist Ash in many ways, I admire his counterpart, Anjuli, much more: despite being trapped in a precarious situation, her strength, courage, resilience, and most of all, compassion is astounding. I definitely have a soft spot for Ash’s best friend Walter Hamilton, or Wally, whose idealism is contagious, and the wise and prudent Koda Dad, a father figure and mentor to Ash. Honorable mentions go to Sarji, who only makes a short, but incredibly memorable appearance that embodies the values of true friendship and loyalty, and of course, the formidable Dagobaz, the most majestic and noble horse ever known to man.

Most memorable quote?

“If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer: let him step to the music that he hears.” 

Conclusion?

There are some books that feel like home; books that you have read so many times you know certain passages by heart, and yet, you still discover new things when picking them up again: different nuances to your favorite characters, a fresh perspective on the antagonists, meaningful quotes you may have overlooked before, or historical facts you had already forgotten. “The Far Pavilions” has never, not once, lost its touch of magic to me, and is, for a million different reasons, my forever literary home.

AT A GLANCE

Title: Palast der Winde

Author: M.M. Kaye

Published by: Fischer (1984, first edition 1978)

Pages: 942

Language: German (title in English: The Far Pavilions)